five days before the shoot began, leaving acclaimed filmmaker Todd Haynes and his crew in the dust.“It has been a nightmare,” Haynes’ producing partner Christine Vachon said of the debacle.Not only was Phoenix going to be one of the leads—opposite rising star Danny Ramirez—but the untitled film was based on his idea, telling the story of two men in 1930s LA who fall in love and have to flee to Mexico.Subscribe to our newsletter for a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.His sudden and unexpected departure left the production with very few options, and a new scoop from The Hollywood Reporter says Haynes and his team contemplated a number of “eleventh hour attempts” to salvage the production. Could anyone with enough box-office draw replace Phoenix on such short notice?Can Joaquin Phoenix Be Replaced, or Is Todd Haynes’ Gay Love Story Doomed? https://t.co/PjZNnZZA4tThe piece suggests Pedro Pascal as an alluring sub, but his jam-packed schedule (including Marvel’s new spin on Fantastic Four and The Mandalorian movie), means it was never all that likely.